How To With Zoe: Green Terrarium(02 Feb 2018)

How To with Zoe: Green Terrariums

If you don’t have a garden, create your own with a terrarium! Use small plants that you can fit inside your jar and won’t grow too tall. Terrariums are easy-to-make, low-maintenance gardens, and can last almost indefinitely with minimal water!

Source your containers from a second hand store, or just grab a simple glass coffee jar from your kitchen. Remove any price tags or stickers from your containers and wash both the interior and exterior thoroughly to ensure that there are no unwanted residues that could affect the health of your plants.

Step two:

Fill the bottom with rocks or pebbles to create a false drainage layer so water can settle and not flood the plant. The depth of the rocks depends on the size of your container. The activated charcoal looks exactly like what you would expect it to and it’s messy. You don’t need much, just enough to cover the rocks. The charcoal will improve the quality of your little world including reducing bacteria, fungi and odours.

Step three:

Cactus and succulents need a special soil compared to most other plants, so be sure to get the appropriate bag depending on which plants you’re using. Add enough soil so the plant roots will have plenty of room to fit and grow. Take your plant out of the pot and break up the hard soil ball until you get down to the roots. If you’re breaking the plant into multiple parts, be gentle. Using a spoon, dig a well to place your plants roots in.

Step four:

Add more pebbles around the top and compact the soil down around the base of the plant. Continue placing your little plants in the container and try to keep them away from the edges. After you’re done planting you can add little accessories like a blanket of moss, little figurines, sticks, stones, or even a layer or rocks. Wipe away any dirt on the sides of the container. Give the terrarium a little bit of water. Unlike most of your house plants, a terrarium doesn’t need to be soaked!